Who was more advanced in the 17th century and before? The Asians or the rest of the world?

Question

The Japanese had Samurai swords and were highly skilled with them as well as with many styles of fighting. And the Chinese had many differenct types of weapon... such as nunchucks, shinais, sais, swords, long staff, escrima, short staff, et cetera.
Yet the Greeks on the other hand, had fire that could not be put out with water, and the Romans had catapults - like those in the film "Kingdom of Heaven" - and sling-shots and so on. Both the Romans and Greeks may have had more power than the Asians, but it does not necessarily mean they were more advanced.
So which were more advanced - for their time, in arsenal and strategies, et cetera - ?

Answer 1

Strictly speaking, this isn't a military question, but it may be worth salvaging.

Questioner, by the 1600s, East Asia reached the pinnacle of its development. Of the two leading powers in the region, the Ming Dynasty of 1368-1644 A.D. saw to it that China had a stable centralized bureaucracy with officials chosen on merit through competitive examinations. Chinese technology saw to both the refinement of fine arts and the sustainment of productive agriculture. Emphasis on literacy enabled the development of tactical treatises and highly effective standing military forces. The same was more or less true of Japan; after the cessation of the Warring States Period with the victory of the Armies of the East at Sekigahara in 1600, Japan entered a period of splendid isolation, which saw both its agricultural base and cultrure prosper.

Unfortunately, both states entered a period of decline; the Ming Dynasty gave way to the Ching, founded by Manchurian horsemen from the north. Both intercine warfare and enroachment from the West saw China's position diminished. Japan's enforced isolation for centuries led to cultural stagnation and a lapse in its military virtues that was only corrected in time by the efforts of dedicated reformers.

You are concerned with the various kinds of "flashy" weaponry you may see in movies, but that is not what made either the Chinese or Japanese civilizations great.

As for the Greeks and the Romans, "Greek fire" was a staple of the Byzantines, not of the earlier Greek city states. The underpinnings of Greek and Roman civilization lay, like the East Asian states, in spiritual development and the advancement of mathematics. Greek hoplites were driven by notions of virtue cultivated through their epic sagas; Roman legions were driven by the ideals and grandeur of Rome harnessed to unparalleled engineering skills.

If you are comparing military systems, it would be only fair to say that Greece and Rome did a far better job of integrating their citizenry into their military systems. The Greeks and Romans took a larger proportion of their adult male populations and trained them to standard in a short period of time. Professional standing militaries such as the Spartans were the exception, but the rest of the typical militaries of that era were nothing to be laughed at.

On the other hand, China and Japan emphasised the development of professional military castes (though dynastic turmoil in China ensured the process had to be restarted over and over again). This resulted in a huge gap between the peasant conscripts typically recruited for a campaign, with the professional military men that led them, a gap that did not exist in Europe until the Dark Ages, and which ceased to exist in Europe after the Industrial Revolution.

If you're looking for one of those clearcut "which is better" deals, you're really not going to find it unless you define the parameters a whole lot better than "before the 17th century". I could, for instance, say that the Takeda Crimson Lancers were better cavalry than the Macedonian Companion Cavalry, or I could say that the Byzantine Emperor's Varangian Guard was better infantry than those of the Manchurian Bannermen, but that's all conjecture at best.

And you've missed so much in between the two regions and time periods. How would you rate Ottoman Jannisaries or Zulu Impi? The Wild Geese or Charlemagne's Paladins? Is one truly better than another, when each was blessed by circumstances unique to their region and time period to be skilled and often dominate those around them?

Besides, your question invites ignorant minds to make statements that smack more of racism than anything else. Read a bit more and maybe you'll end up asking a lot less.

Answer 2

Even though the earth will go through much. It will last forever. It just gets re-done a few times. Well? I see signs today. Earthquakes, etc... And also the antisemitism. Israel being birthed (60yrs ago) Sanhedrin & the High Priest the Sacrifices, the New Temple. Etc. All this is being planned right now. Israel now has found Sanhedrin's & High Priests for the Levitical Priesthood. Being the 7th Day (To God a Day is like 1000yrs = 1000yrs like a day). Enoch was the 7th from Adam & walked with God & was translated (raptured). So also Jesus said in 3 days & 3 nights He will raise up. So it is a sign since it is believed we are in the beginning of the 7th Millennium since Adam. And also the beginning of the 3rd Day since Jesus raised up. And also the World Order. Some speculation that the people behind the World Order are trying to prep Obama to be a world leader. But I don't believe Obama is the antichrist, since he loves the Lord Jesus Christ. The people discussing a world government also plan to implant a chip in everyone soon. (Some believe this would be the mark of the beast, 666). In the backof the hand or the forhead. And this with a hand exray or eye picture would secure positive ID. Christians believe that rapture will happen & this will allow the World Order to get in place. For when He who lets (suppresses) is taken away, the the antichrist will be revealed. Some believe it will happen 2012. The worldy prophets & prognisticators have predicted that this is the end of the world. But really, possible the rapture, then the antichrist reign. And then Jesus comes back with 10,000s of His Saints to throw the beast & false prophet into the lake of fire to be tormented forever. And to throw the devils into the abyss until the end of the Millennium Reign of Christ. Anyway, I have watched Jack Van Impe lately & he puts all this together. The 2012 stuff. The Great White Throne Judgment won't be till after the Millennium Reign of Christ. Then after that there is a new heaven & a new earth. Well? A redone new heaven & new earth. Read the end of Revelation. But for us who are redeemed, we are judged & disciplined today, since God is our Father. We are part of the first Resurrection that is complete before Jesus returns with His 10,000s Saints. So our Judgment day is like an Awards Day. And the lake of fire is no threat over us. After the Millennium, those who were not part of the first Resurrection are present at the Great White Throne Judgment. This is the final Resurrection. And those whose Names aren't found written in the Book of Life are thrown into the lake of fire. (The only ones I know who don't have their names written in the book of life since the foundation are those who decide to take the mark of the beast,666.) diamint has an interesting answer, but it is contrary to the book of Revelation. So their antichrist and their Jesus Christ are different than the biblical one. But Muslims are looking for their Mahdi or world ruler today also.

Answer 3

By the 17th Century, Western European nations led in the area of invention and discovery...Spain was at its pinnacle, soon to be overtaken by France and great Britain.

China had its finest hour back around 1000CE...by then, they had gunpowder, an advanced government and culture, earthquake warning systems.
For that matter, much of Indonesia was highly advanced through the 12th & 13th Centuries.

The Middle East began its ascent in culture, math, science and travel, but soon lost ground to Italy, etc., around the 16th Century.

Given that kind of timeline, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that America is now in decline and, since history repeats itself, China is poised for a rebirth.

Answer 4

by far it would have to be the asians. i mean look at how early the chinese were using gun powder. or think of the technique of the samurai sword. if the chinese or japanese had the desire to conquer other lands i dont think the romans or greeks would have had much of a chance.

Answer 5

The asians, the native amaricans and the africans, the rest of the world didn't even wash on a weekly basis and started a bunch of wars

Answer 6

the 17th century pretty much belonged to the Arabs. (the Caliphs of middle east) they were strongest and had best civilization and most power.

Answer 7

The Irish, they had the Guinness

Answer 8

Asians - No
Muslims - Yes
So what happened?

Answer 9

All my chiggaz out there wuz dealin hard, ya heard me?!